"I have been making inquiries, sir," continued Corporal Hal Overton, "and I am informed that you have some signaling flags among the quartermaster's stores."
"I believe I have," nodded Lieutenant Pope.
"I have come to ask, sir, if I may borrow a couple of the flags."
"Borrow? Then, Corporal, I take it that you do not want the flags for duty purposes?"
"Not immediately for duty purposes, sir. Corporal Terry and myself would like to practise at wig-wagging until we become reasonably expert. Sergeant Hupner is an expert at wig-wagging, I understand."
"Yes, indeed," agreed Lieutenant Pope heartily. "Even in the Signal Corps of the Army there are few better signalmen than the sergeant."
"So I understand, sir. Corporal Terry and I are delighted at the idea of having the sergeant instruct us."
"But what do you want to do, especially, with flag signaling?" inquired the quartermaster.
"It is simply, sir, that we want to make ourselves better soldiers."
"It is rarely that we find better soldiers than Terry and yourself," replied the quartermaster, with a friendly smile. "But you are quite right, none the less. A soldier can never know too much of military duties. I see no objection whatever to your having the flags, but as they are not a matter of ordinary issue, I think it better for me to seek Major Silsbee's authority for issuing them."